Top of a two - piece swim or sport suit

ABSTRACT

The invention is based on the common top of a two-piece swim- or sport suit which is usually held to the body of the wearer by a neck strap and a back strap. In order to offer more hold and therefore additional security, especially when the wearer is performing sporting activities, the invention features an additional strap system which effects that the tensile forces coming from the front of the garment are shifted to the back strap. Because of the additional distribution of the forces affecting the straps, especially when the body of the wearer is moving, increased comfort is gained as the straps do not cut into the wearer so much and the top is held to the body more tightly. Apart from that, the invention solves another problem of everyday life by including a little container is integrated in the described strap system. In the container, little items like keys, credit card or money can be carried. In this way, such items can be carried at the body of the wearer in a perfect way, without restricting the freedom of movement or making it necessary to wear an extra garment or to carry a bag.  
     This strap system can be put off easily and quickly without having to put the whole garment off.

[0001] The invention concerns the top of a two-piece swim- or sportsuit. This kind of top is commonly known as a bikini top.

[0002] A bikini top usually has two either rounded or triangularlyshaped cups at the front connected by a strap, tie or bar.

[0003] A sports top is usually characterized as being one piece ofmaterial with or without cups.

[0004] The front of the top is held to the body by at least onesecurable back strap. The top also has either shoulder straps joiningthe cups at the front to the back strap or a neck strap leading from thecup over the neck.

[0005] Two-piece swimsuits or their tops are increasingly worn not onlyfor swimming but are used to replace two piece sport suits. Bikini topsare also worn in conjunction with other clothing for sporting activitieslike running, jogging, walking or playing sports at the beach, surfing,water-skiing, beachvolleyball, roller-skating or similar activities.Whilst performing these activities, traveling to them or just going tothe beach one usually carries some small items such as money, jewelry,credit cards, keys, mobile phone and other accessories.

[0006] The kind of swimsuit or sport suit worn for these kinds ofsporting activities usually covers only part of the torso, in order toallow more freedom of movement, less sweating and a better tan. Thefreedom of movement gained by wearing such a top is lost if theindividual has to carry small items as they are then required to use abag or wear an extra piece of clothing in which the items can becarried. Sporting activities also put more stress on the garment than itis usually required to withhold. This can lead to the straps cuttinginto the wearer, slipping or even breaking.

[0007] The invention aims to redesign the classic bikini top or sporttop to give the wearer better security when performing sportingactivities whilst allowing the wearer the option of carrying small itemswithout the need to wear extra garments or carry a bag. This alsoprovides the wearer the advantages of a better tan.

[0008] The invention offers more hold of the top and therefore moresecurity to the wearer as the risk of slipping or breaking of the strapsis dramatically reduced whilst offering the wearer increased comfort andthe option of keeping small items near the wearer.

[0009] The invention fulfils the above by altering the known straps andadding additional straps within which a small container is integrated,or to which a container is attached detachably. As the additional strapsystem and the container can be removed by the wearer if desired, thewearer is given the option of an unbroken tan if the extra straps arenot required.

[0010] The thus freed strap construction with the integrated containercan be used by the wearer as a handbag or hip bag.

[0011] According to a preferred version of the invention the strapsystem is connected to the main top via two shoulder straps which can bejoined releasably to the front of the garment using rings, clips,magnets, Velcro, poppers, screws, hooks or ties. The front of thegarment is connected using one of the above mentioned methods with theshoulder straps or neck strap. These straps are then connected to theback of the garment either centrally attached to the back strap orconnected via the back and under the arm of the wearer to the front ofthe garment.

[0012] According to this preferred version of the invention, the twosides of the top are connected releasably by two back straps withfasteners and by a neck strap at the upper part of the top.

[0013] A further development of the invention features a detachableattachment of the shoulder straps to the back strap (the shoulder strapscan also be removed by the wearer if desired), which offers two designvariants: first, the option of adding a joining element at the back ofthe wearer, which is designed to receive one of the two back straps. Thejoining element may be a ring, for example, at which the ends of theshoulder straps leading to the back are secured. When the wearer wantsto put on the additional strap construction, she can easily do so byreleasing one of the two releasable fasteners of the back straps,(presumably the upper back strap in most cases), by putting the looseend of the back strap through the ring and by closing the fasteneragain. In this operation the top is sustained by the second back strapand the neck strap.

[0014] The second option of adding a joining element at the back of thewearer is the use of one or several clips, magnets, Velcro, poppers,screws, hooks or ties, etc. which are attached to one or both backstraps of the top releasably. By this means the wearer does not have toloosen one of the two back straps in order to put the strap construction(with or without a container) on or off.

[0015] The advantage of the strap system is that it can be put on andoff easily. The strap system absorbs a great part of the forcesaffecting the top, which are created by the movements of the body of thewearer. The distribution of tensile forces on the shoulder straps andback straps improves the adaptation of the garment to the body when itis worn for sporting activities. The advantages of the invention becomeobvious especially when small items are carried in the containerintegrated in the strap construction because it is held tightly to thebody and therefore cannot make any unpleasant movements that areindependent of the movement of the body. Besides, the fact that thestrap system with the container is positioned on the back of the wearerso that it does not interfere the movements of the wearer when doingsports is of great advantage. Also the straps of the bikini top do notcut into the wearer so much because the shoulder straps which areconnected with the bikini-top adjust themselves mechanically in a waythat the tensile forces both at the front and at the back are dispersedevenly over the whole back of the wearer.

[0016] The distribution of forces when the tensile forces affecting thedifferent straps and parts of the material of the whole construction arecompensated can be divided schematically by three triangles of power:two of them are created at the front of the wearer by tensile forcesthat pull the front of the garment downward when the torso is moving,and tensile forces in the opposite direction that come from the samearea, which the neck strap exerts diagonally upward to the middle andthe shoulder straps exert diagonally upward to both sides of thegarment. The third division of forces comes from where the tensileforces of the two shoulder straps pull to the top left-hand area and tothe top right-hand area, and where the back strap counters these forces.

[0017] Another advantage the strap system with a preferable second backstrap offers is that tensile forces which the two back straps, which areheld releasably under the arms of the wearer at the sides of the topwith a certain distance to each other, exert on the material at thefront of the garment let the material fit tightly on the breasts of thewearer so that she is offered both more hold and additional securitybecause the danger of the top slipping is reduced. New kinds ofmaterial, which are preferably used for this invention are very elasticand therefore spread the tensile forces exerted evenly and thus fit moretightly on the body of the wearer.

[0018] A second version of the invention features a loose strap or aloose flexible bar with two releasable joining elements at both ends,which are either stretched horizontally from one side of the top to theother over the back of the wearer or horizontally from one shoulderstrap to the other. This variant requires no neck strap or second backstrap but it does require two shoulder straps that are attached to aback strap in any case. The two shoulder straps enable the stretching ofthe strap and balance the tensile force occurring because of a containerattached to the strap or when the body of the wearer is moving.

[0019] In a third version the neck straps running between the twoshoulder straps are lengthened and lead further from the neck down theback of the wearer. The two neck straps are tied together at the back ofthe wearer, or they are joined by a bar and fastened releasably at theback strap with one or several joining elements or stretched releasablybetween the two shoulder straps, for instance at the point where theshoulder straps are connected with the back straps. Alternatively, theymay be leading under the arms of the wearer and be attached releasablyto both sides of the front.

[0020] According to the invention, the bar between the shoulder strapsand neck straps is made into a container that is either integrated in itor which can be removed by the wearer if desired. The container isround, triangular, rectangular, or has the form of a trapezium and canbe closed. When the container is integrated in the strap system it ispreferably framed by the shoulder straps and neck straps of the strapsystem. A removable container is attached to the straps with loops,buttons, poppers, tongs, plugs, screws, clips, magnets, Velcro etc.

[0021] It is also a part of the invention that the wearer can releasethe strap system from the back strap and take the shoulder straps orneck straps over the head to be able to put small items in and out ofthe integrated container.

[0022] A further development of the invention enables the wearer tocarry rather heavy containers or little rucksacks and to still have thestrap system balancing even these increased forces in a way that thestrap system fits on the body tightly. This quality proves its worthmainly in the following two versions:

[0023] One of these versions has the two shoulder straps connected witheach other by a bar that is rigid or at least not very flexible, towhich the container can be attached releasably. Apart from that, asecond rigid or at least not very flexible bar may 5 connect the twoshoulder straps additionally a little further down and thus may enhancethe stableness of the construction even more. In this version theshoulder straps under the lower second bar are best lengthened and leadto the releasable fasteners under the arms of the wearer to both sidesof the front of the garment.

[0024] In the other version the shoulder straps are joined at the backof the wearer, for example by a knurling-stop or any other device thatcan be used for adjustable fastening. From there they are lengthened andlead to fasteners under the arms on both sides of the front of thegarment. Between the upper tangential point of the shoulder straps tothe fasteners under the arms each of the two shoulder straps is leadingthrough a capsule or a component that is apt for individual adjustmentand connected with the ends of a bar, at which the capsule or adjustablefastener is secured. The bar runs horizontally over the back and offersthe option of adjusting the distance between the two shoulder straps, asit balances the tensile forces, too. The two shoulder straps and theadditional horizontal strap over the back of the wearer form a triangleand balance the forces exerted from the upper part of the garment andfrom the sides perfectly. Besides, they hold even rather largecontainers and little rucksacks tightly to the body because the strapsare adjustable exactly as it is required at the upper tangential pointand the points at the sides and prevent containers or little rucksacksfrom moving unintentionally, especially when they are loaded. Thesecontainers or little rucksacks are attached releasably to knurling-stopsor any other components that are apt for adjustable fastening withloops, buttons, poppers, tongs, plugs, screws, clips, magnets, Velcroetc.

[0025] In the following, the invention is explained on the basis of adraft of only one of its versions. It is displayed schematically by

[0026]FIGS. 1 and 2 front view and rear view of an example with arrowsfor the schematic display of the forces

[0027]FIG. 3 top view on a top of a swimsuit or sport suit

[0028]FIGS. 4 and 5 front view and rear view of the object displayed inFIG. 2

[0029]FIGS. 6 and 7 the top displayed in FIGS. 4 and 5 with theadditional strap system put off

[0030] FIGS. 8 to 11 further versions of the top with the shoulderstraps attached releasably to fastenings at the sides of the front ofthe garment, each displayed in a rear view

[0031] FIGS. 12 to 13 further versions of the top with the shoulderstraps attached releasably to the back straps with the help of a joiningelement at the back of the wearer, each displayed in a rear view

[0032] FIGS. 14 to 15 a second version preferably without neck strapwith a horizontal strap system, each displayed in a rear view

[0033] FIGS. 16 to 17 a third version with a lengthened neck strap, eachdisplayed in a rear view

[0034]FIG. 18 a version of the invention, suited for rather heavycontainers or little rucksacks, each displayed in a rear view

[0035]FIG. 19 a version of the invention with an adjustable triangle onthe back of the wearer, each displayed in a rear view

[0036] The tops of a ladies two-piece swimsuit or sport suit displayedin the figures, called “top” in the following, consist (as describedabove) of two either round (1), or triangularly shaped cups (1), or ithas the form of a sports top, characterized as being one piece ofmaterial with or without cups (1). The tops are held by at least oneback strap (2) and a neck strap (3) to the body of the wearer. Accordingto the invention, an additional, strap system (4) is featured,consisting of preferably two shoulder straps leading over the shoulders,which are attached releasably to the front of the top (1) and which aretied together at the back of the wearer, or connected to each other by abar (6). Furthermore they are attached releasably to a back strap (2)(FIGS. 4 to 5), or they are lead under the arms to the front of thegarment and attached to it releasably (9) (FIGS. 8 to 13).

[0037] The bar is preferably made into a little rucksack (7) or acontainer (7), which can be attached to it by releasable joiningelements (8) like clips, magnets, Velcro, poppers, screws, ties orhooks. etc.

[0038] In the example of FIGS. 4 and 5 the top of the two-piece swimsuitconsists of two triangular cups (1), which are held by one of the twoback straps (2). Furthermore the two cups (1) are connected to eachother by the two back straps (2) at the back of the wearer, which runparallel to each other when the strap system (4) is put off (FIGS. 6 and7). Each of the back straps (2) has a fastener (9) for putting the topon and off. A ring is fastened (e.g. sewed on) to the upper end of eachtriangular cup (1). A neck strap (3) is attached to the rings, which mayalso be sewed on. The additional strap system (4) is put on when thewearer is doing sports or when small items are carried. It consists oftwo shoulder straps (5) that are connected to each other, like in theversions in FIGS. 4 and 5, at the back with a bar (6) that is made intoa container, and below this bar with a joining element (12) in the formof a ring. Circles symbolize the fastening points in FIG. 1. The ring(12) holds the two shoulder straps (5) on the back at the point, wherethey run into a triangle. At the same time, the ring receives one of thetwo back straps (2). Putting the garment on is easily done by releasingthe fastener (9) of the upper back strap (2) for instance, pulling itthrough the ring (12), and by finally closing the fastener again. Thefront ends of the two shoulder straps (5) are attached to the rings (10)that are attached to the cups (1), for example also with the help of ajoining element that is not displayed here, like a clip, magnet, Velcro,popper, screw, tie or hook. As a result of this, triangles of forces arecreated at both rings (10), which relieves the strain on the straps ofthe garment, as can be seen in FIG. 1.

[0039] In the schematic draft in diagram 3, which shows a top view ofthe top lying on a plane, it can be seen that the additional strapsystem (4) consisting of two shoulder straps (5) can be put on by thewearer taking it over the head. The joining element in the form of aring on the back of the wearer (12) receives the upper back strap (2),which is attached to it releasably, The front ends (compare FIG. 4) ofthe two shoulder straps (5) are attached releasably (symbolized by opencircles in diagram 3) to the two rings (10).

[0040] Arrows symbolize the forces affecting the straps in diagrams 1 to3. When the additional strap system (4) is put on, the upper back strap(2) absorbs the two tensile forces created by the resulting force “R”,which creates more security on the one hand, and which improves theadjustment to the individual size of the wearer or the adjustment of theitems carried to the movements.

[0041] The area marked by a circle in diagram 4 shows the two backstraps (2) attached releasably to the two fasteners at the sides (9) ofthe top (1). The two back straps are fastened releasably at a certaindistance to each other so they hold the top at two different points atthe sides and lead the tensile forces in two different directions,namely horizontally to the side and diagonally upward. Thus the materialfits more tightly around the breasts of the wearer and thereby providesmore support and additional security as the risk of the top (1) slippingis reduced.

[0042] In the versions displayed in FIGS. 8 to 11 the shoulder straps(5) are joined by a bar at the back of the wearer (6) and lead under thearms to the front of the garment and attached to it releasably. In theseversions the bars (6) are made into an integrated container orattachment or bearing surface for a container that can be removed by thewearer if desired. The container is can be closed, for example by azipper (14), and is designed to receive small items such as money,jewelry, credit cards, keys, mobile phone. It is advisable that thecontainer (7) consists of a fabric and watertight material and is sewedon the shoulder straps (5) or connected releasably with an attachment orbearing surface by loops, buttons, poppers, tongs, plugs, screws, clips,magnets, Velcro etc.

[0043] According to the versions preferred by the inventor that aredisplayed in FIGS. 4 and 5 the container (7) is triangular and arrangedin a gusset between the shoulder straps (5) converging on the back ofthe wearer.

[0044] FIGS. 12 to 13 correspond with the descriptions of FIGS. 8 to 11in regard to the shoulder straps (5) joined at the back of the wearer bya bar (6) and the bar preferably made into a container (7). But theydiffer inasmuch as the bar (6) and the shoulder straps (5) meet in oneor several joining elements on the back of the wearer (8) and areattached to one or both back straps (5) releasably.

[0045] In FIG. 14 a loose strap or a loose flexible bar (6) is fastenedreleasably with two joining elements (8) at both sides of the top ifrequired, and is fastened preferably by another joining element (8) inaddition, like a Velcro fastener for instance, which is attached at thecenter to the back strap (2) and on the backside of the container. Theback strap (2) is joined firmly with the shoulder straps and cantherefore balance the exerted tensile forces additionally.

[0046]FIG. 15 shows a single strap or elastic bar (6) with two joiningelements (8) at both ends, which is attached releasably to the backstraps (5). As this strap system (4) is attached releasably to the sidesof the back straps it can be fixed at different levels.

[0047] In the version of FIG. 16 the strap system (4) is formed by thetwo neck straps (3) and connected to each other at the back of thewearer with a bar (6) made into a container (7), which can be put onbetween the two shoulder straps (5). The two joined neck straps (3) arelead under the arms of the wearer to both sides of the front andattached to it releasably.

[0048] The neck straps (3) in the FIG. 17 feature two joining elementsat the back of the wearer (8), which are stretched releasably betweenthe two shoulder straps (5) and the back strap (2) at the same time.

[0049] The versions of FIGS. 18 and 19 are suited for carrying ratherheavy containers (7) or little rucksacks (7) that are made of watertightmaterial with a waterproof fastener. They balance the tensile forcescreated by loading the container in a way that the strap system (4) fitson the body tightly even under these circumstances.

[0050] The version of FIG. 18 is formed in a way that the shoulderstraps (5) attached releasably to the front of the top (1) are joined bya rigid or at least sparsely flexible bar (6). A little further downthey are joined once more by a second rigid or at least sparselyflexible bar (6) and lead to fasteners under the arms at both sides ofthe front and are attached to it releasably. The container (7) may beattached to the rigid twin-bar (6), which provides particularly strongsupport for heavy loads, by Velcro surfaces (8) for instance, which areattached releasably both to the backside of the container and to therigid twin-bar (6).

[0051] In FIG. 19, the shoulder straps (5) are joined on the back of thewearer by a knurling-stop (13) or any other component (13) suited foradjustable fastening. They are lead through it to fasteners under thearms of the wearer at both sides of the front of the garment (9).Between the upper point of contact of the shoulder straps (5) and thefasteners under the arms (9) each of the two shoulder straps (5) isconnected with the ends of a bar (6) leading through a further capsule(13) or a component suited for individual adjustment (13), to which thecapsule (13) or component (13) is attached.

[0052] In FIG. 19, on contrary to FIG. 18 the back straps (5) can beadjusted individually and as required, and therefore putting on thestrap system (4) for sporting activities is as advisable as when heavyloads are carried. In this version, any container (7) or bag (7) can beattached releasably to the knurling-stops (13) or the horizontal lowerstrap (6), as long as it has loops, straps or other components forreleasable attachment.

1. Top of a two-piece swim or sport suit, the front of which has abreast covering (1) that is held to the body of the wearer by at leastone back strap (2), characterized by an additional detachable strapsystem (4).
 2. Top as in claim 1 characterized in that the top isattached releasably via two over shoulder straps (5) to the breastcovering (1) and either to the back strap of the wearer (2) or lead viathe shoulder and under the arm and attached releasably to the breastcovering (9).
 3. Top as in claim 2 characterized in that the shoulderstraps (5) joined on the back of the wearer by a bar (6) which featuresmeans of attachment for attaching a container (7).
 4. Top as in claim 2characterized in that shoulder straps (5) feature means of attachmentfor attaching a container (7), which acts as a bar between the shoulderstraps (5), at the back of the wearer.
 5. Top as in claim 2characterized in that the ends of the shoulder straps (5) at the back ofthe wearer are sewed onto a ring through which a back strap (2) isthreaded.
 6. Top as in claim 1 characterized in that an additionaldetachable strap system (4) consisting of two over the shoulder straps(5), which are attached releasably to the front of the top (1) and whichlead through a knurling-stop (13) or any other component (13) suited foradjustable attachment and which are joined to detachable fastenings (8)under the arms of the wearer at both sides of the front of the garment.Between the upper connecting point of the shoulder straps (5) and thefasteners under the arms of the wearer, each of the two shoulder straps(5) is connected with the ends of a bar (6), with the help of a furtherknurling-stop (13) or adjustable component (13), which is attachedreleasably to the bar (6); thus the bar runs horizontally over the backof the wearer.
 7. Top as in claim 6 characterized in that the horizontalbar (6) is made into a container (7), or with the container (7) attachedreleasably to the bar (6).
 8. Top as in claim 1 characterized in thatthe additional detachable strap system (4) features a loose bar (6) withjoining elements (8) at both ends. The bar (6) is made into a container(7) and attached either to two shoulder straps releasably (5) at theback of the wearer, or the container (7) is put on at the back of thewearer and attached releasably to the front of the garment under thearms of the wearer (8).
 9. Top as in claims 2 to 4 characterized in thatthe additional detachable strap system (4) features two neck straps (3)in addition to the shoulder straps (5). The neck straps are attachedreleasably to the front of top (1) and joined on the back of the wearerand lead under the arms of the wearer to both sides of the front of thegarment and they are attached to it (8) releasably.
 10. Top as in claim9 characterized in that the neck straps (3) are joined by a bar (6)which is made into a container (7).